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Recent Articles from Nicole Black
Generative AI in law: New survey of lawyer perspectives and plans
Have you recently heard the term “ChatGPT” or “generative AI” and wondered what they were? Or maybe you’ve read one or two of my recent columns and have a general sense of what this technology is and what it does. But are you using it in your day-to-day workflow? If the answer is “no,” according […]
Is it a constitutional violation for a judge to mute defendants during video sentencing?
The past few years have drastically impacted the way that the world operates. The shift to remote work was a sudden and drastic change, but whether it will be a permanent one remains to be seen. The overnight transition to virtual interactions was particularly impactful on our court system. Because a complete standstill was not […]
ABA report on lawyers, technology & the pandemic
Last fall, the American Bar Association released its annual Legal Technology Survey Report. This extensive report provides data and analysis on the technologies that lawyers are using and how they are being implemented in their law firms. The report covers a wide range of legal technology topics including cybersecurity practices, the types of legal software […]
Law firm planning: Get ready for 2022
Is your law firm ready for whatever may come now that COVID-19 surges are occurring all around the country, and the omicron variant is a looming threat? With mask mandates once again in effect in many areas, it’s impossible to predict what the future will look like. That’s why business planning for the upcoming year […]
Another jurisdiction, another remote working ethics opinion
In March 2020 when the first shutdowns occurred, everyone believed we’d be back to normal in a few weeks. Now, more than a year and a half later, it’s clear that the “old normal” is a thing of the past. Pandemic surges are occurring across the country and businesses are transitioning back-and-forth from remote work […]
Technology competence in the e-filing era
Technology competence: Nowadays it’s a must for lawyers. Five years ago, you may have been able to convince yourself that there was no need to be technologically competent, but no more. The writing has been on the wall ever since the American Bar Association amended the comments to Model Rule 1.1 in 2012 to include […]
Workplace wisdom: Think before you post to social media
If I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again: Think before you post. This recommendation applies to everyone, of course. But if you’re a lawyer, then you’d best heed my advice and tread lightly when posting commentary online on social media sites or elsewhere. Otherwise you run the risk of running afoul of your ethical […]
Workplace tips to for managing remote employees
The shift to remote work was an abrupt and unexpected change for most businesses, including law firms. For that reason, it didn’t always go smoothly. However, over time, most legal profession employers were eventually able to work through the challenges and put technology and work processes in place that allowed their workforce to get work […]
Court gives potentially sanctionable conduct a pass as result of pandemic-related uncertainty
As we enter our ninth month of the pandemic and COVID-19 numbers are surging across the country, lawyers and judges alike are bracing for newfound full or partial shutdowns. If and when the shutdowns occur, our court systems will undoubtedly slow down, creating a bottleneck effect, just like what happened in the spring. And when […]
Can the pandemic provide an excuse for sanctionable conduct?
As we enter our ninth month of the pandemic and COVID-19 numbers are surging across the country, lawyers and judges alike are bracing for newfound full or partial shutdowns. If and when the shutdowns occur, our court systems will undoubtedly slow down, creating a bottleneck effect, just like what happened in the spring. And when […]
Save time and aggravation: top life hacks and gadgets
Have you noticed how it seems like there’s never enough time to get everything done no matter how hard you try? Rest assured, you’re not alone. In today’s hectic world, balance is a goal often sought but rarely achieved. In other words, the struggle is real. The good news is that there are gadgets and […]
Verdicts & Settlements
- Driver struck twice in rear-end collision at red light — $350,000 settlement
- Drunken driver strikes vehicle on interstate — $200,000 settlement
- Trip and fall on mat leads to knee replacement surgery — $1.5M verdict
- Woman suffers permanent injury in broadside crash — $2.325M settlement
- Teacher injured in accident during morning commute — $1.5M settlement
- Woodshop incident leads to amputation of fingers — $1.3M settlement
- Motorcyclist’s foot amputated in collision — $7M settlement
- Contractor rear-ended on interstate on way to wedding — $825,000 settlement
- Man suffers back injury in crash with out-of-state driver — $530,000 settlement
- Driver crossed center line, struck 89-year-old’s vehicle — $1.2M settlement
- Jury returns defense verdict in favor of gastroenterologist
- Teens killed in T-bone collision with officer — $3.1M settlement
Opinion Digests
- Body cam footage properly admitted
- Motion to withdraw pleas properly denied
- Evidence supports murder, conspiracy conviction
- Court affirms convictions for abduction, malicious wounding
- Officials allegedly assaulted inmate
- Non-party discovery dispute transferred
- No sanctions levied for ‘deplorable’ communications
- Progress note was party admission in damages trial
- No res judicata bar to personal injury claim
- Default judgment set aside in accident case
- Motion to set aside default judgment denied
- Punitive damages cap applies per lawsuit
